HeBrew Bittersweet Lennys R.I.P.A

Unlike Lenny Bruce, I can’t quite say that I found this beer particularly interesting. There is certainly an obscene amount of rye used in this beer and it does come out.

This is a big bold beer in every respect. Hazy copper with an almond coloured head generating scanty lace. Heady aroma of sweet bready grains, with a complex of hop scents: woody, resinous, and faintly fruity. Oily heavy mouthfeel with fairly low carbonation. Generous rich sweet malt flavour with equally generous dense hop character, all backed by a thick alcoholic warmth. Despite the magnitude of the palate elements, this beer is smooth and balanced. However, it is intense, and I am glad I had Tyler Durden to help me finish this one! While I appreciate the craftsmanship and care that this beer represents, it is too "big" to be enjoyed with any frequency, at least for me.

22 oz bomber poured a very deep dark copper with half inch off white head that remained nickel thick to the end. Some nice lacing to boot. The aroma was sort of sweet syrupy smelling of caramelized malts, a bit of date fruitiness but mostly pine hops. I also find a slight alcohol note too. The flavor starts with pine hop bitterness that has streaks of sweet citrus running through it. The hop flavor and bitterness ride all the way through the flavor profile right to the lingering aftertaste. The hops at the beginning seem a bit sweeter than the hop bitterness infused finish. The thick mouth feel is buoyed up by caramelized maltiness that lurks in the background. Full flavored brew that embraces you with its warm and brutal nature. It’s a comfy cushy pillow of tongue crushing hops. As each ounce is consumed my taste buds really don’t adjust to the flavor assault. I’m getting the sensory stretching hoppiness right to the 22nd ounce.

Lots of citrus hops in the aroma.Pours a red/copper color with a large off white head.Caramel malt and some bitter hops stand out in the flavor.Medium to full mouthfel with a bitter hop finish.

Finally tracked a few of these down... Pours a nice medium amber color with a really good sized off white foam head. Smell is there, bitter, floral, a hint of alcohol. Taste is there right along with the smell, but with a nice bitter finish. Very good brew, and very drinkable.

At the 2007 Big Beer, Belgians, & Barleywines Festival in Vail. Dark copper amber with a huge off white head and phenomenal lacing. This is a big hop head’s beer. Not quite floor cleaner, but enormous loads of pine and citrus to the aroma and the flavor. Shockingly devoid of candy sweetness, but the malt is in great combination with the big hops. Great beer.

I have no interest in the late Lenny Bruce, may God rest his soul, but a double IPA with rye malt grabs my attention. The beer is a clear deep copper red, topped by almost two inches of soft and creamy off-white foam. Good head retention and okay lacing. Sweet malt and mild pine hops in the aroma. Tasty caramel malt gives way to a drier rye malt. Nice blend and transition. A solid but not overwhelming pine hoppiness is prevalent throughout. Nearly full body, gentle but ample carbonation. Nothing profane here.

22 oz Bomber in nYC... Beautiful color, light brown/tan/orange laced head with wondeful persistence. Nice citrus flavors with a solid hop backbone that permeates everyting from the aroma to the thick resiny mouth feel. Unbelivalble. Love it